Multicell flat type dry battery



AP l, 1947. H. w. wlENcKE '-f'2f418442 MULTICELL FLATV TYFE DRY BATTERY n Filed June 25,r 1945 INVEN TOR.

Patented Apr. l, 1.947

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE I, i y e .2.418.442

VIVIJL'llf/'ELL ELAT TYPE DRY BATTERY Herman W. Wieneke, Flushing, N. Y., assigner to Hearing Aid Batteryl Corn. Newark, N. J., ka

comorationofblewjersey l sppiiemmxuae 2s, 1945, serai No. 601,260

(crise-111) iciaim;

This invention vrelates to improvements `inf electrical dry batteries; and the` invention has reference, more particularly. to a `ncnel con- 1 struction of multicell `drylbattery ofthe series connected type. I l

This lnventionhas for multiceil dry battery of the series connectedy type which is of compact form and structure, wherein lan object to provideau Idry battery according `to this invention comprises an assembly of a plurality of battery units, the number of which may be varied in accord- `ance with the total voltage desired to be obtained.

the battery units are so related that, when as sembled together, they will automatically con# nect themselves electrically in series relation- ,Without necessity for use of interconnecting wiringor similar conductors, and wherein each battery unit comprises an individual cell withinr which the chemical elements thereof are herrnetically `sealed both against atmosphere and moisture, as well as against escape or inter- `change between adjoining cells.

The invention has for another object to provide a multicell dry battery characterized as above `set forth, wherein each battery unit is assembled in a novel housing or container mem-` ber, said` housing or container ,members being so formed as to telescopically interlock one with another in succession, and wherein the assembly includes a duplex electrode means intermediate adjacent units; which also serves as a dividing partition adapted to seal of!` said units against interchange of their electrolyte content.

-The invention has for a further object to provide a novel compact' and leakproof multicell dry battery structure which can be economically produced, especially in small sizes` suitable for use in portable equipment, such as hearing aidI apparatus, field telephones, portatileA radios and the like.

Other objects of this` invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated,` will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a multicell dry battery made according to this invention; Fig.

2 is a top end elevational view of` thesame; Fig.

3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the same, taken on line 3F,.3 in Fig.` 2;,llg; 4 is a Aplan view of one of the housing `or container Each unit comprises a housing or container member of suitable peripheral shape, and of suitable length, widthand height dimensions; the same being made from a material, preferablya mold- `able plastic material, of a kind which is both electrically non-conductive and inert `to the chemical content cfa battery unit to be housed therein; an example of suitable plastic material having such characteristics comprises a polystyrene resin, but it will be obvious that there are other synthetic resin plastics and other kinds ofnplastic` materials which would provide said i characteristics. Y

, Each housing or container member comprises a body section I0, having an outwardly open chamber Il, and an integral axially extending neck section I2 of reduced dimensions. The external` peripheral shape and length and width dimensionsof said neck section I2` correspond to the internal peripheral shape and length and width dimensions of said body section chamber II.A Said neck section I2 is provided with an outwardly open chamber I3 which communicates with the body section chamber Il. Said chamber` i3 is of less length and 'width dimensions than those of the body section chamber II, thus providing, at the bottom of and extending around the interior of the latter, a seating ledge I4 coincident. with the communicating `iuncture of said chambers.

Supported on the seating ledge i4 within the bojdy section chamber Il of each housing member,` so as to` form a separating partition between said chambers II and I3 thereof, is a duplex electrode member comprising a sheet of metallic zinc I5 coated on a face thereof exposed toward said body section chamber I I with a layer of carbon i6; 'the zinc and carbon materials being thus engaged face to` face in electrically conductive contact. Preferably said zinc sheet l5 is adhered and sealed to the surface of said seating ledge Il by a suitable cement which is inert to the chemical constituents of battery units, whereby to form, at its juncture withsaid seating ledge Il,`a`leakproof Joint. 'Ihe zinc sheet I5 is exposed toward the interior of said chamv said compartment or cell.

ber I3, and said chamber provides a battery unit compartment or cell, bounded at one side by said zinc sheet I5, whereby the latter forms the anode electrode of the battery unit contained within Entered in and suitably secured within said compartment or cell I3 is a depolarizer pack I1 formed from suitable constituents and charged with a suitable electrolyte in manner well known-to the art. Interposed between said depolarizer pack I1 and said zinc anode electrode I is a separator member I8, which may comprise any suitable material which is permeable by the electrolyte content of the depolarizer pack II, such, e. g., as paper. starch,

or other liquid permeable material.

When battery units comprising housing or container members and battery unit forming elements contained inA the cell thereof are toA be operatively assembled together, the neck section |2 of one housing or container member is inserted and telescoped into the outwardly open body section chamber |`I of an adjoining housing or container member, `until opposed faces of said members engage in meeting relation. When the battery units are thus assembled, the de-f polarizer pack |I in the cell I3 of one housing or container member will be brought into operative contact with the carbon layerv I6 of the duplex electrode member of another or receiving housing or container member, wherebyy said carbon layer will provide the cathode electrode of and will thus complete the enclosed battery unit.

It will be obvious that any number of thus'provided battery units may be as'sembledin succession to provide a complete multicell dry battery of desired total voltage. For example, assuming the vbattery units are designed to each yield a voltage lcontact withthe carbon cathode `I6 of the ad- Joining unit, so that said units are directly electrically connected in series without necessityfor provision of interconnecting wiring orother current transfer conducting means, and consequently a very compact, simple, 'and easily and economically produced multicell dry battery structure is furnished.

- To complete the multicell battery as formed by the assembled housing or container members and their contained battery unit forming elements, suitably shaped cover plates |3 and 20 are respectively engaged with and over the end units, whereupon said units and end plates may be suitably secured together against separative displacement. A satisfactory means for so securing these parts together (as shown) comprises tie-bolts 2| which are passed through aligned .openings 22 with which the end portions of the body sections I0 of the housing or container members and the end portions of said cover plates are provided, tiff.: external extremities of said tiebolts being headed over upon the external faces of said cover plates, to provide retaining heads 23,

or any other suitable fastening means may be' .assure tight leakproof Joints therebetween.

v One said cover plate. as, e. g., the cover plate I9, .is provided with suitable battery terminal means with which the terminal poles of the series end of one of the plug socket elements, as, e. g..

the element 24, is a suitable conductive lead 26.- This lead26 .connects the zinc anode I5 of said duplex electrode with said element 24, the carbon layer I6, if interposed, merely acting as a conductor between said zinc anode and said lead 2B. The battery unit at the opposite end of the series is connected by' a suitable conductive lead 21 with a tie bolt 2|. This lead 2'Iv connects the carbon cathode. I6 ofthe last duplex electrode with said tie-bolt 2|, the zinc layer I5, if interposed, merely acting as a conductor between said carbon cathode and said lead 2'I. From the opposite end of the tie-boltl 2| extends a lead 28 which is connected with the remaining plug socket terminal 2l. It will thus be obvious that the units of the multicell battery are connected in series between said outlets formed by the plug socket elements 24 and 25. Said plug socket elements 24 and 2i may respectively detachably receive connection therewith of plug terminals 2|! and 3I|,of the respective conductors 3| and 32 of anl electrical circuit desired to be served by the multicell battery. ef

I am aware that various changes could be made in the abovedescribed constructions without 4de parting from the scope of this invention as defined bythe-following claim. It is` therefore intended'that all matter contained inthe foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

A multicell dry `battery comprising a plurality of self series connecting battery units, each unit comprising a container member made of material which is both electrically non-conductive an inert to the chemicalconstituents of battery ele- 'ments, said container members each comprising a body section and'a `neck section of reduced external and internal dimensions in order to provide the same respectively with outwardly open communicating chambers and an internal seating ledge coincident' withvthe juncture thereof, a duplex electrode o f 'plate-,like form comprising an anode layer and a cathode layer in conductive contactsaid duplex electrode being seated on and sealed'tosaid seating ledge within and across the body section chamber, a depolarizer packlodged within the neck section chamber, the neck section of one container member being tele scopically received in the body section chamber of an adjoining container member, whereby a depolarizer pack is operatively disposed between an anode layer of a duplex electrode of one container member and the cathode layer of a duplex electrode of an adjoining container member', a cover plate for each end of the 'container member assembly, tie-bolts extending through the aligned end portions of said container members and cover y between the other pole of the series connected battery units to the adjacent end portion of one UNITED STATES PATENTS of said tie-bolts, and a conductive lead extending Number Name Date from the opposite end portion of said latter tie- 650,886 Wiegand June 5,1900 bolt'l to the other of said terminal outlet means. s 2,040,255 Gordon u; May 12, 1936 HERMAN W. WIENCKE, 2,225,460 Porth Dec. 17, 1940 2,335,875 Sanderson May 15, 1945 REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the lo Number Country Date le 0f this patent: 49 British 1891 

